• 41 were randomly selected to drink water before meals.
• 43 were advised to visualize a full stomach before meals.

All study participants had a 30-minute in-person consultation at the beginning of the trial and a short telephone follow-up interview two weeks into the study. Urine was collected round the clock for sampling to see how any possible cheating with other beverages or skimping on tap water might have affected weight loss.

After 12 weeks:

• 9.48 pounds was the average weight loss when a pint of tap water was consumed a half hour before three meals a day.
• 1.76 pounds were lost, on average, when preloading with tap water happened only once a day or not at all.
• 2.87 more pounds were lost, on average, in the tap-water preloading group than in the visualization group.

Preloading with tap water is “a simple message that has the potential to make a real contribution to public health,” according to Parretti. She looks forward to further research involving more people preloading with tap water over a longer period of time.

About 60% of the human body is water so it is important to replenish this valuable nutrient on a regular basis. Water acts as a shock absorber for the brain, spine, and it protects a baby during pregnancy. It transports nutrients to every cell and helps flush out waste products. Water lubricates the joints for easy, pain-free movement and helps regulate body temperature.


Sources:

1. Parretti, Helen M., et al. "Efficacy of water preloading before main meals as a strategy for weight loss in primary care patients with obesity: RCT." Obesity 23.9 (2015): 1785-91. Wiley Online Library. Web. 28 Sept. 2015.
2. "The water in you: What does water do for you?" USGS / The USGS Water Science School. US Geological Survey / US Department of the Interior, 27 July 2015. Web. 28 Sept. 2015.